Daily Tidbits: Google reveals hidden features in mobile app

Google's Mobile App with Voice Search for the iPhone has a few hidden features, the company announced Thursday. The hidden menu offers theme color changes and allows users to ditch its default sounds for others of their choosing. The app also features an option to open links in the program. Google said it will discuss more details at Macworld next week.

Families First, Georgia's largest nonprofit family service agency, has launched the I Am The Solution initiative to provide a community for people to make at least one "selfless" resolution for 2009. The agency claims its initiative "hinges on an interactive, online community" that will allow users to create profiles, set deadlines, track progress, and most importantly, communicate with others to "stay motivated." So far, the organization has signed Atlanta Falcons Linebacker Keith Brooking, hip-hop singer Big Boi, and best-selling author Ron Clark to join the service in the hope that they will attract more users. Throughout the year, Families First will profile and give awards to individuals who achieve their selfless resolution.

The New Platforms Fund launched Friday, offering start-ups small investments ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. The fund is being launched by Herman Blackbook, a consulting firm that works with small companies. Participating companies will receive marketing and development strategy, along with the funding. "The goal of the fund is to seed up to 10 cutting-edge ideas with both money and human capital to bring them from concept to alpha stage," according to a press release. The fund is ready to dole out cash now for those firms Herman Blackbook wants to work with.